Reign employees attacked in parking lot

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - The Ontario Reign's head trainer was hospitalized early Sunday after being assaulted outside a restaurant in this city.

Bobby Walls and the Reign's massage therapist were attacked by a man with an unknown object as they walked in the parking lot of the BJ's restaurant at 11520 Fourth St.

The two members of the minor-league hockey team's training staff had seen four males burglarizing two vehicles before the attack.

Walls suffered serious injuries and was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. The therapist suffered lesser injuries.

Walls was "obviously in some pain," Reign President Justin Kemp said. "He's expected to make a full recovery. Our thoughts are with him and his family."

Walls and the massage therapist just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, Kemp said.

"They walked in on somebody trying to break into a car," he said. "They didn't see it coming. It was a very sudden and surprising thing to have happen. They're very lucky."

Police officers learned four males, including the attacker, broke into two vehicles - stealing a stereo, speakers, subwoofer and amp. The incident was reported at 1:18 a.m., San Bernardino County sheriff's Sgt. Gary Odebralski said.

The men took a cell phone and keys from one of the members of the Reign's training staff and fled in a white or silver Chevrolet Cobalt. The Cobalt returned shortly thereafter, and the men returned the phone and keys to the Reign staffer, Odebralski said.

The Cobalt again fled the scene and has not been found.

Sachin Patel, the Reign's orthopedic surgeon, stayed with his two co-workers until paramedics arrived, Kemp said.

The massage therapist worked Sunday's Reign game against the Stockton Thunder, but there is no timetable for Walls' return, Kemp said. "Bobby will be a little while longer."

Witnesses can call the sheriff's Rancho Cucamonga station at 909-477-2800.

The BJ's parking lot is one of several areas that police "pay attention to" and patrol on weekend nights, Odebralski said.

"Because there are several bars, including BJ's, Boston's, and across the street on the Ontario side several restaurants have bars," Odebralski said. "It's one of the areas we do have extra patrol in."

Odebralski said he would not consider the area dangerous despite the patrols by police.

"We're aware of certain problems and looking to address them," he said.